The Yodeling Ranger

The combination of light and deep dark purple hues shot out across the sky as the sun was sinking below the surrounding mountain peaks of the small township of Carazeth located deep in the San Juan mountain range. In the East the shades of purple faded into cotton candy pink and on the outskirts of town rode the one everyone referred to as the Yodeling Ranger. Though he was a shorter man he was a man of stature, as always he rode with his five string banjo strapped to his back, and a big six iron shooter always attached to his hip. The 4th model of Smith & Wessen’s 38. With a 4 inch barrel, nickel plated handle, and side thumbpiece release. Not to mention the customizable iron sight He’d dial in every morning as soon as he awoke. He and his cream coated Palomino would trot around the town before climbing to a peak on a trail he’d made in just a week of arriving into this unfamiliar town so he could bask in the glory of the final minutes of the setting sun and where he’d camped out every night since coming into town.

Three tall men shaded by the dirt on their beards sat outside Rose’s saloon, the main attraction built in Carazeth. Its sign made from the finest birchwood hung high above surrounded by lanterns to light anyone’s attention. Inside this cantina one would find all the pleasures of the night in its rustic yet beautiful gleen. Drinks, poker, and the women of the night would all meander into Rose’s saloon to celebrate another day in the life of the mountains. “Has anyone talked to this strange man who’s wandered this way into our little town?” asked a man known as Billy Freeman. He stood tall and in great shape with curly hair that he never let a hat cover. The other man dressed in red from heel to head the only part of his outfit that wasn’t red was the rattlesnake boots that he wore and was referred to only as Red sat silently staring up at the mountain peak. Butch the shortest of the group who always wore a black sash and black hat to match, responded, “The only one who spoke to him was Rose. She figures he’s one of the new national ranger folk here to do some business before making his way all the way down the great divide.” “Hmmm. and his name?” Red inquired.

“Rumor has it he goes by the Yodeling Ranger because he was once the finest yodeler to ride the train cars and work as a mule skinner. He was famous from the South to the North. And the songs of his banjo made people dance from night until day. Then one day he went crazy and set out for the West with nothing but the open range on his mind. And… and now he only has two yodels left to sing. One of love and despair the other is his death yodel and any man who hears it never lives to tell the tale.” “Hmmm” Red chuckled as he returned to silence moving his gaze across the dusty streets of the town and his eyes flared like the devil was in his eyes. He slammed the rest of his rotgut whiskey and began to walk around the town. “Well now” Billy began. “I would certainly like to hear him yodel a tune for the town now.”

Meanwhile the ranger made some adjustments to his camp and unloaded his five string banjo as the final hues of orange and purple cried out at the sky. He reached into his horse's pack and took the last swig of homemade whiskey he’d brought with him on this journey. Then his fingers plucked away and his same old love song yodeled out to the emerging stars above. “My dreams are filled with tears

They have been for years

And when the sun shines

There is only sorrow

You left me to be lonely

With no dreams left in sight

So I sing this mountain lullaby

Each yodel is for you

It keeps me safe

Like the pistol by my side

And I could never be lonely

With my banjo in my hands

As I yodel all night long

This lonesome song for you”

And he began to yodel a song that would carry throughout the night. Each sound pierced the heart of the moon. An eternal cry that longed to be touched by someone who’d long gone by. And when he saw the moon shining blue across the milky way his yodel turned so high and full of pain he dropped the banjo and his yodel resembled a cry. And he yodeled and yodeled and cried until the moon passed him by and sleep came over his eyes.

He awoke the next morning as the dawn was beginning to break. He did the same as he always did and began to check his iron sights to ensure his aim was dialed in. Haunted by the colors of the dawn he turned his back and faced the West. As he heard his coffee percolating he knew it was high time. So he poured into his canteen and let his little fire go out and behind him the sun began to shine. Though this time he wrapped his banjo in the buffalo hide he’d been sleeping in as he saddled up to take one more ride. And to Rose’s door he did ride.

“Buenos Dias Ranger, Rose excitedly greeted him as he removed the palomino colored stetson hat from his head. Before acknowledging Rose he’d gazed over to a couch in the corner of the cantina. The Ranger was struck the day before by Rose’s beauty in her now middle age. She carried herself with a bizarre strength and dignity rare to find in anyone. She ran a tight ship and kept her cantina in the finest condition. He’d felt a rare immediate trust in this saloon owner. She had an openness that few possess, long black hair, sun tanned skin, a long Roman nose, and dark eyes that reminded him of the night sky, and a single freckle below her eye and nose that added to their shine.

“What can I do for you stranger?”

“Well a shot of whiskey and a story would do just fine.”

“A shot of whiskey I can do. But a story? What kind of story do you want to hear?”

“Yesterday you told me a man named Red lives here.”

Rose’s mouth shut and she poured two shots of whiskey and left the bottle on the bar. “One for you and one for me. Salud.” They both threw the whiskey back like it was cool water for a thirsty man. “What do you want to know about him?” She inquired.

“His story.”

“Well now he’s been here for three years now. He doesn’t say much so I only know a little.”

“I imagine a man who has made quite a long stay here has much to say to a woman like yourself” as he winked.

“Well don’t you have a read on the town. He rode in one summer night and talked much upon his arrival. He had a sweat covered face and a tear that never left his eye. He told us he was on the run but hasn’t caused any trouble since he got to town. He’s come here every day since he fell in love with one of our girls named Lorena. And he said that he… He said that… Well just forget about it”.

“Well then tell me about this Lorena. Can I meet her?”

“She’s out for her morning ride. But she is the most popular woman in town. She came to us just a few days before Red showed up. Both of them came as strangers in the night. And she grew fond of Red quickly my dear. It would not be good to ask for her attention while he is in town.”

“So I wonder what might Red have said to such an astonishing woman?”

Rose, still hesitant, looked deep into the Rangers eyes and saw a twinkle of life in his hazel eyes despite the despair ridden on his face and began to feel a trust as well. “Come on now Rose, yesterday I told you my story and now I say I’m here for the man they call Red.”

Finally giving in to his request she sighed and said, “He told Lorena that he’d met the devil before coming to us and he is quite feared in town. You would be wise to not awaken the devil that once overtook this man.” “What time does he come in?” The Ranger probed as he poured and down another shot of whiskey. “Whenever he wakes up. He says he can’t go a day without Lorena and dances with her through the night” Rose responded as she followed suit in reaching for the bottle of whiskey. “Well when you see him, tell him I am here for him and that everything you throw away you keep.” Rose nodded as the two finished one more swallow straight from the bottle and the Ranger stepped out of the saloon to roam the town.

Rose looked to find he’d left his white stetson hat on the bar with a rose by its side. As she reached to pick it up, she heard the fast pace of Butch approaching her as she’d forgotten he’d passed out drunk on the furniture the night before. “I heard all of that!” Butch shouted out to Rose, “Is this man mad?”

“I don’t know, I don’t know what just happened.”

“What just happened is that so-called yodeling ranger is a dead man walking. I’m gonna go tell Red.” And Butch dashed for the door, hopped on his pony and busted down the town.” Rose reached again for the hat and as she picked up a note fell out of its brim. And the note began…

My dearest Sony,

How we shared a time. I fell in love from the start and thanked God I met you. But our love was short and strong. It is now my time to leave. Keep playing the banjo and forget I ever met you. That short June in Memphis will stay with me forever, But my heart desires to roam and so to you I must say goodbye. May your blonde hair and pretty eyes never lose their glow. Adios mi almo, I will never see you again. -Maria.

Sony sat across the street at the sole barbershop in town and had decided to get a clean shave done to his grizzly mountain man beard and watched as Butch rode out of town. It was here where he took in every maze of this little mountain town and was astonished at the grit of those who’d come to build Carazeth. By the time he was done taking it all in he noticed a girl of remarkable beauty riding fast into Rose’s cantina. Just then the goofy barber offered, “Now that we caught your beard off, why don’t we chop that blonde mane you call hair?” He just handed the barber his money, looked him in the eyes, nodded and sat back down in his chair.

After the cut was finished and the mirror gazed in his eyes he was quite impressed with the handiwork of this strange man. He’d asked to stay awhile and the barber and him agreed. So there he sat watching the hours of the day go by and didn’t speak another word. By the time the sun was beginning to sink into the West behind the barbershop the Ranger shook the stranger's hand and made his way to Rose’s cantina. But first he stopped to unhitch his Palomino horse.

Upon entering Rose’s the blaze of fiddles, guitars, and songs of love stories filled the room. He noticed the whole town had come out to dance tonight and a smile rose over his face from cheek to cheek. Immediately Rose came running up to him, “You left your stetson hat and this rose here earlier. I wanted you to have them back” she stated ecstatically. “But you need to leave. I don’t think you know who Red really is. You will die if you stay here!” Sony’s face smirked, “I left my hat and that Rose with you for you with no intention of getting them back. As for my fate, it has been decided.” Rose sat the hat and rose down behind the bar and her face fell apart before the Ranger’s eyes. “If it is to be my last night, I wish to dance it all away” as he grabbed Rose by the hand and led her to the dance floor.

Twisting and twirling Rose had never danced with somebody like this before and thought of how long it had been since someone had tried to treat her to such a great time. And when the sound of the ramble stopped he dipped her in his arms, she rose again to kiss him and told him they will dance no more. Then Rose pointed as Lorena came out for all to see and said, “Go and dance with her, it will be a dream.”

Sony was flashed by awe at the sight of her appearance in the cantina. He noticed nothing remarkable about her but yet everything about her was. She had long black hair that flowed down to her butt. She danced and sang with a voice that one wouldn’t have heard ever being popular where he was from. She possessed a strange beauty in sight and character that he saw would draw any man in. So he approached her and told her who he was. She said, “I’ve heard of you and know now what must come.” “May I do a dance with you my sweet Lorena, for it might be the final one.”

She grabbed his hand and led him to the dance floor with moves he’d never seen before. She’d move her hips and they danced all around the floor, bumping and moving everyone and everything even to the tops of the tables Lorena’s eyes did gleam. The Ranger’s smile was one she’d never seen. But he kept his eyes intent on the door and when he saw the man called Red come through the door he knew the dance had to end. The two men who followed busted shots into the air as Red knew the Ranger was the one who’d been dancing with his Lorena. And Red addressed the crowd as the music stopped and the liveliness turned dead.

“So you must be the Yodeling Ranger I hear so much about?” He began circling around Sony and Lorena. “I hear you have come to town on some unfinished business my friend. And to this I accept. But this will be your last yodel my friend. I didn’t think I knew you but now I know for certain who you are. It has been a long time coming hasn’t it? I look forward to adding another notch on my gun. This time I’ll add a special banjo string because I do not wish to forget this.” The crowd erupted as they all had heard about the crazy challenge administered early this morning. Most pleading out to the ranger to not accept.

The ranger nodded. “What time is it?” Red was aghast as was everyone in the cantina who’d come to love Red over the years as they gathered behind besides a few in the town who were still suspicious of his past. And Rose shouted out that sunset had just begun.

So the two men ventured out of Rose’s cantina, Red had his hand on his hip and never took his eyes off the eyes of this man who he knew was about to die. Sony was just as keen on his rival though he gave the appearance of a calm aloofness, as if nothing around him was happening at all. And as the two men went outside a deathly howl began to echo through the town. The ranger was yodeling a tune so cold and dark it filled the crowds bones with chills of emptiness. He directed himself towards the West as Red made his way East across from Rose’s Cantina. But the yodel continued. Howling out to the moon rise and set on this street of lies, but Sony felt as if he’d lived a lifetime in a day.

And so as they walked and the two of them met eyes. The crowd shouted out that the ranger is a crazy man, possessed by some demon! And on he sang,

“My darling gave me this banjo

Then she rode away one night

Took my heart in Memphis

Left me there to die

My hope rode away

On that lonesome night

I’ll sing this song for you

Just before you die

My heart is filled with thunder

And the storm is in sight

So let my love tuck you in

Just before you say goodnight

My badge…”

Red moved first clearing the leather from his hip but the light shone down on the Ranger’s Smith & Wessen as he drew twice as quick and two shots rang out across the land. But one man was left standing with no hat upon his head and the crowd erupted into anger. The Yodeling Ranger felt the wind of the shot pass by his ear as he watched the man he’d come to kill fall to the dirt and knew that where he lay was the place he too would find one day as he rang out a final yodel that resembled a whistle the sounds of hoofs stomping the ground like lightning came to his aid and jumped on the Palominos back but as he tried to rush away, he heard a boom that he’d never forget. The heat pulsed through his body as his Palomino horse took him up the trail they’d blazed. Butch called out to the crowd, “That man is a murderer!” As everyone was still in a state of shock of what had just taken place. After a few moments and disagreements a few others in the town grabbed their guns and agreed to hunt the ranger down.

As the Palomino made its way they’d finally reached camp though Sony was gasping to hang on to any bit of life. He dismounted the horse and cuddled up next to his banjo's grave. Kissing it goodbye as he stared out into the West to see the pink and purple mixing into the ocean of blue restored his spirit to life and grief. And he cried and he cried and he cried to yodel one more time. The ground began to feel comforting and warm. He didn’t want to get up one more time. So he lay there and closed his eyes. But the other companion of his dropped its head and nudged him back to life.

As he arose he could hear softly the noise of hoofs closing in on him. Tears in his eyes and grief in his heart he climbed back on his pony for another ride. He stared down at his banjo which he knew he’d leave behind as his pony rode off further to the West he sat on its saddle still gasping for breath. He looked out to see the milky way coming to life in the night and as they rode together he had a new song to beat his death. So with an achy, raspy voice he sang as they rode beyond the sunset,

“My dreams are filled with tears

Since you left me here

Like the eagles on the wing

I was bound to roam

Away on these mountains

I will find a home

But the haunting of your memory

I will never be alone

And when it's my time to die

I’ll settle up and say it's high time

Yodel-ahhhhhh-heeeeee-whooooo

Yodel-ayyyyy-ohhhhh-heeeeee

For my badge is made of gold

Shines like the sun

My Smith & Wessen’s

Silver shines like the moon

My banjo has gone and so have you

I’ll ride into the night

Searching for the tree of life

Yodel-ahhhhhh-heeeeee-whooooo

Yodel-ayyyyy-ohhhhh-heeeeee.”